Folding carton



2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

lNvENToR rakwza/vwm A BARRON Sept.- 1 1, 1934.

www@ CARTON Filed April 14.1935

Spt. 1I, 1934.

A. BARRON FOLDING CARTON Filed April 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR w|| Il BYMf# ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Folding Carton Abraham Barron, New York, N. Y. Avlillcation April 14. 1933, Serial No. 666,181 Claim. (Cl. 229-52) I'his invention relates to the class of folding boxes or cartons and, while not restricted to such use, is particularly designed for the purpose of packaging a plurality of bottles whereby they 5 may be safely and conveniently can'ied by hand or otherwise.

'I'he invention broadly aims to provide a folding box or carton which may be cut and formed from a single sheet of stock, the construction 1 being such that the completed structure may be disposed in an opened flat condition'for the storage of a large quantity in a minimum space and which construction further admits of the ready and expeditious setting up of the carton to receive the bottles or other contents without requiring any difllcult or complicated operations.

As a further feature the invention comprehends a folding box or carton of the indicated character which serves to completely house and 29 protect the contents and which retains itself in a closed condition irrespective of the position in which the box or carton is carried, held, or set or laid down.

The invention further contemplates a carton or box structure of the character set forth, which is so designed that when it is carried by its handle, the stresses and strains are imparted in such a manner that the various portions thereof brace and counterbrace each other so as to make for an unusually strong and rigid structure.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of an improved carton or box which is comparatively simple and not complicated in its construction, which is inexpensiveto produce and which is highly eillcient for its intended purpose.

With the above recited and other objects in view reference is made to the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which there is described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention which the claims, when taken in connection therewith, mark out and define the actual scope of the inlvention.

In the drawingsz- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the carton in its set-up closed condition for carrying by its handle.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the handleforming tabs spread apart and held down in a flattened condition to permit of the storage and shipment of a maximum number of the filled y cartons in a minimum space.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on a larger scale, the same being taken on a plane which is approximately indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 3. 60

Figure 5 is a plan view of the carton in its flattened down or folded condition forstorage or transportation of the same when unfilled.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the carton is formed.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference A and B designate two compartmentforming units which are of identical construction and which are joined together by a link portion or bottom member C, preferably formed integral 79 therewith as shown. Each unit includes an outer wall l0 and an inner wall 11, said walls being joined together by a side wall 12. The opposite longitudinal side edge of the outer wall 10 has a. side wall 13 and the lower edge of the outer wall 75 10 is joined to the link portion or bottom member C. The inner wall 11 has at its lower edge a hingedly attached bottom flap 14 which is of slightly lesser length than the width of the inner and outer walls and of slightly lesser width than the width of the side walls 12 and 13 so that the bottom naps may t within the bottom of each of the compartment-forming units when the same are set up. The upper edge of each inner wall 11 has a reduced upstanding extension or 85 tab 15, the side edges 16 of which converge upwardly. Each extension or tab 15 is formed with an opening 17 so as to constitute a handle which is double the thickness of the stock when the extensions or tabs are brought together.

The upper edge of each outer wall 10 is provided with a top flap 18 having a slot 19 which is of such a size and so positioned as to snugly engage over the lower wider base portion of both of the handle-forming tabs 15, thereby serving the dual function of retaining the top or cover flaps 18 in closed overlapped relation and the umts in side-by-side relation.

If desiredand as shown partition.`= tongues 20 may be provided for each unit and the same are preferably cut and formed in the inner walls 11. The partition tongues 20 are of such a length that they extend from the inner walls outwardly and bear against the inner face of the cuter walls 10 to additionally serve as a transverse brace 105 for the carton structure.

The blank shown in Figure 6 is formed into the completed carton by joining the free side edges 21 of the inner walls 11 with the free side edges 22 of the side walls 13 in any suitable manner to 110 f outer walls, a linky member. joining the outer form a hinged joint. As illustrated, the edges 21 and 22 are connected by a strip of material or tape 23. The carton thus produced is shown in a flattened or collapsed condition in Figure 5 -so that alarge quantity may be thus stored and shipped in a minimum space. If it is desired to reducethe area of the flattened or collapsed cartons, this may be accomplished by providing the' link or bottom member C with a transverse score and 11; Second,.the bottom naps 14 are swung in-- wardly to lie within the confines of the inner or lower ends of the compartments which are thus formed with the free longitudinal edges of the naps engaging the lower inner edges of theouter .walls l0 in the manner shown in Figure 3; 'l'hird, with the two compartment-forming units in the opened condition thus described, 4said units are then swung inwardly toward each other and with reference to the linkv or bottom member Cso that the lower ends of the units overlie said link or bottom member. After `the bottles E or other contents have been introducedfinto the unit compartments, the two handle-forming tabs 15, arranged in side-by-siderelation. arel flexed laterally and inserted through the slot 19 of one cover nap 18 after which said tabs are iiexed laterally in the opposite direction andthe slot 19 of the other cover nap is `then engaged thereover. The relative size of the tabs and slots are such that. a frictional locking engagement-is set up which prevents unintentional disengagement, thereby holding the cartonl structure in a closed conditiomwhich is clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. In condition the carton may be conveniently carried by inserting the fingers through the registering openings 1'7 in the handle tabs. 1

Obviously the bottles may be either disposed in the upright position shown or arranged horizontally by slightly varying the proportions of the carton. lIt 'is also evident that in some instances where the product which is to be carried in the carton is packaged at the place of its manufacture, it may be found desirable to spread the handle-forming tabs and seclue them down in a flattened condition against the upper end of the carton by suitable means such as an adhesive tape F as shown in Figure 2. In this case only the downtumed terminal portions G of the tab are adhesively secured to the outer sides of the carton, so that the tearing or cutting of the tape adjacent the terminals serve to completely release the handle tabs.l

With the carton in the setup, illled and closed condition illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, it will be found that in carrying the same by the handle tabs 15, that the weight of the load of the contents is divided and distributed in such a manner that the inner and outer walls aswell as the link or bottom member and the bottom flaps brace and counter-brace each other.

What is claimed is: l. A folding carton including a pair-of compartment-defining units each having inner and walls and adapted to extend across and completely underlie the lower ends of the units when the carton is in set up condition, a handler forming tab extending upwardly from the upperl edge of the inner wall of each unit, and a cover flap hingedly carried by the upper edge of each outer wall thereof having overlapping registerable 'slotted portions through whichthe handleforming tabs are adapted to extend for holding the inner walls and the handle-forming tabs in u flat contact with each other.

, 2,. A folding carton including a pair of compartment-dening units each having inner and outer walls, a link member joining the vouter walls and adaptedto extend across and completely underlie the lower ends of the units when the carton-isin'set-up conditioma handleforming tab extending upwardly from the upper edge of the innerwall of each unit, a cover flap hingedly carried by the upper edge of each outer wall thereof having overlapping registervable slotted portions through which the handleforming tabs are adapted to extend, and a bottom nap hingedlyv carried -by the lower edge of the inner wall of each unit to respectively nt within the confines of the lower end thereof and to overlie the linkmemben 3. A folding carton structure fashioned from asheet ofstock and' so constructed as to providea pair ofcompartment-dellning umts, a link member joining the lower outerl edgesof the units and adaptedto underlie the v lower ends of both units whenthe cartonisv set up, an inwardly directed lcover flap at the outer upper edge of each unit having slotted portions 11.0-vv

adapted to mate and overlap and an upwardly' extending handle-forming tab at the inner upper yedge of each unit for engagement through said mating overlapped slotted portions of the cover ilaps for holding the handle-forming tabs in contact with each other.

4. A folding carton structure fashioned from a sheet of stock and, so constructed and arranged as to provide a pair of collapsible compartmentdefining units, a link member joining the lower outer edges of the units and adapted to underlie the lower ends of both units when the carton is set up, an inwardly directed cover flap at the outer upper edge of each unit having slotted portions adapted yto mate and overlap and an upwardly extending handle-forming tab at the inner upper edge of each unit for engagement through said mating overlapped slotted portions of the cover flaps. A

5. A carton including a bottom member and a pair of compartment-forming units each comprising an outer `side wall hingedly connected at its lower edge toone of the opposite outer edges ofthe bottom member, anv inner side wall and side edge walls hingedly connecting the inner and outer side walls to permit of collapsing of the units when the carton is in a knocked-down condition, a slotted cover llap hingedly connected to the upper edge of the outer side wall and a handle-forming tab ex'-- tending upwardly from lthe upper edge of the imier side wall of each unit and .engaging through slotted cover naps of the units.

6. A carton including a bottom member and a pair of compartment-forming unitseach comprising an outer side wall hingedly connected at its Alower edge to one of the opposite outer edges of the bottom member, an inner side wall and side edge walls hingedly connecting theinner and outer sidewalls to permit of collapsing of 15a the units when the carton is in a knocked-down condition, a slotted cover ilap hingedly connected to the upper edge of the outer side wall and a handle-forming tab extending upwardly from the upper edge of the inner side wall, and the partition tongues cut from the inner side wall and of a length to extend transversely across the unit to engage with the outer side walls.

'7. A carton including independent compartment-forming units for arrangement in sideby-side relation, said units each having inner and outer walls and side walls, a link member connected to the outer side wall of each unit at their bottom edges and underlying the entire bottom of the carton, an extension at the upper end of each of the adjacent inner walls of the units, the said extensions having mating openings so that the extensions together form a handle for the carton.

8. A carton including independent compartment-forming vunits for arrangement in side-'byside relation, said units each having inner and outer walls and side Walls, a link member connected to the outer side wall of each unit at their` bottom edges and underlying the entire bottom of the carton', an extension at the upper end of each of the adjacent inner walls of the units, the said extensions having mating openings so that the extensions together form a handle for the carton, and means having detachable engagement with said extensions for holding the units in side by side relation and the extensions in mating contact with each other.

9. In a carton, a pair of collapsible compartment-forming units, a link member having hinged connections with the outer lower edges of each unit said units when collapsed lying in planes parallel to the'plane of the link member and said units being swingable' on said hinged connections with the link member and expansible to a set-up position parallel to each. other and perpendicular to the plane of the link member with the lower ends of said units closed by said link member, inwardly foldable cover flaps at the outer upper edges of said units having slotted portions adapted to be arranged in overlapped relation with the slots in registry and upwardly projecting handleforming tabs engageable through the overlapped registered slotted portions.

10. In a carton,- a pair of collapsible compartment-forming units, a link member having hinged connections with the outer lower edges of each unit said units when collapsed lying in planes parallel to the plane of the link member and said units being swingable on said hinged connections with the link member and expansible to a set-up position parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plane of the link member with the lower ends of said units closed by said link member, inwardly foldable cover flaps at the outer upper edges of said` units having slotted portions adapted to be arranged in overlapped relation with the slots in registry.

ABRAHAM BARRQN. 

